Somerset residents face days of isolation

SOMERSET Regional Council was preparing people for the worst but planning for the best as Lockyer Creek swelled yesterday.

The council activated its Local Disaster Management Group headquarters from Esk and worked through Sunday night and the early hours of yesterday morning notifying residents close to the creek to evacuate.

The council was advised the inundation could exceed January 2011 levels for residents near the upper reaches of the Lockyer Creek catchment area.

But the council did not expect that to be the case for Lowood or Fernvale residents.

The council was in regular contact with residents near the Lockyer Creek catchment area impacted by the 2011 floods who chose to stay.

Residents north of Geoff Fisher Bridge on the Brisbane Valley Hwy at Fernvale were advised to stock up on staples and medication as the bridge was expected to be cut off last night or early today.

The closure of this bridge will result in residents north of the bridge being isolated for several days.

Evacuation centres were set up in Esk, Lowood, Fernvale, Toogoolawah and Kilcoy.